Merry Christmas! (Remember to Forgive!)

A very merry Christmas everyone! I hope you nurture and make significant progress in reaching yr spiritual goals in 2011. Have you tried my free, effortless meditation yet?
http://blog.seattlepi.com/monsoonmasala/archives/179921.asp

On a related tangent, I don’t know what’s the deal with saying ‘happy holidays’ instead. My guru has taught me that on the Tree of Life, Christianity can be the leaves, Hinduism the shoot, Islam the fruit, and so on… None is possible, or complete, without the other! Hubby and I are raising our little one to know that God is One, all prophets are different forms of that ‘one’, none higher than the other. To respect and enjoy every religion equally.

Also, this morning when you wrap yourself with cashmere shawls, sip hot cocoa, munch on salami and cheese platters and (some endure nonsense from your families, so sorry), remember to have some compassion for yourself and reinforce inward what Christ said, “Forgive them father, for they know not what they do.”

Surrender who has hurt you, to God.

Can YOU try to forgive everyone? Honestly forgive? Is it possible today? Or does the thought send you into teeth gnashing fury? It’s ok, there’s help. Just take it easy. Let’s start small. Try my exercise below. When you put your attention on the top of your head, say from the heart, “I forgive myself and I forgive everyone who has hurt me.” Don’t think about people who have, but focus on the top of your own head. That’s the super powerful sahasrara chakra. It’s the gateway to profound meditation any time, any where.

Try forgiving people for your own mental health. A weight will life off your shoulders. Address the energy of the universe with this sincere affirmation, “I’ve done my best. I surrender to thee. Pls take me from darkness to light, show me how to better myself.”

Whether you’ve got a swagger problem or an ego that’s really hard to crack, the kind that’s subtle, tricky, hides itself real well, the affirmation will help you feel a little seed of humility inside again. With practice, humility will turn to a deep reservoir of innocence, it’ll replace your jaded senses with energetic positivity. When was the last time you felt this way?

The way to peace starts with forgiving everyone. My guru explains it as “think about it, whether you forgive or not, you’re not doing anything either way. But by not forgiving, you’re just letting the negativity fester. Surrender whoever has hurt you to the all pervading energy of the universe, the one who is almighty justice, let the hurt leave you fully.”

And how will you know if you’ve truly forgiven? When you get waves of compassion for the one who has hurt you, when you say, “God, please give strength to this person, make him/her alright, I surrender him to you,” that’s when you’ve done it! Once is enough. No need to dwell on him/her. Just make this wish once, sincerely.

My tough as nails Sicilian friend, who has had a tremendously difficult marriage, told me last week that this is how she forgives. I knew all along never to mess with this strong willed chica, she’d take you OUT, but I was so pleasantly surprised to see this side of her, her words had such depth, her voice had such sincerity as her kids pulled her smiling face in 20 directions and her phone rang with orders. She’s not with her husband anymore and has used her knowledge of herbs to start a budding natural cosmetics business. It has become quite successful in a very short time. The words ‘Karmic justice’ come to mind…

And you know what, when you truly forgive, you’ll automatically forget! The trauma will be over forever. Try it! And write to me, tell me if it worked, Ok? Now, go drink that hot cocoa and add some marshmallows too 🙂